Hospital bed



A. LAUKH-UFF 2, 97,105

HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug. 3, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 "Se t. 29, '1942.

. m E F wwx @N QNJ Km m .1 g n UP J I I .o l

llf. NH

p I97f?- A. LAUKHUFF 2,297,105

HOSPITAL BED Filed Aug. 5, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 5ullliiiilllliiiiilliliiillIIIH Sept. 29, 1942. A. LAUKHUFF HOSPITAL BEDFiled Aug. 3, 1940 6 Shegts-Sheet 4 Sept. 2Q, 1942.

A. LAU UFF HOSPIT BED iled Aug, 3 1940 6 Sheets eet 5 hydraulic controlmechanism forelevating the Patented Sept. 29,1942

3 omen mes memos-.1 M

towm f Russ, Ino'., Milwaukee, Win; a corporation-of,

Wisconsin Application mm, 1940, sent; st, 356,253

, bination and arrangement or parts under the knees. 1

In the past, elevation of the spring sections to their inclinedpositions was effected either by an attendant manually lifting thesections, or through actuation of a screw. directly driven by means of amanually operated crank or its'equivalent. In either eventtheservices-oi an attend ant was required. j

The present invention seeks to eliminate the necessity for the servicesofan attendant when the patient desires that the spring sectionsof 1 thebed be raisedtotheir elevated positions. .It is, therefore, an object ofthis invention to provide a hospital bed of the character described withmechanism for elevating the spring secv i Y .throughFIguIeA on the planeof the line 5-5;

tlons, which is so designed that it"may"be easily and eilicientlyoperated by the patient himselL- T2 i a nection between-one o1 thehydraulic jacksand v if Inasmuch as any actuating mechanism which isdesigned for operation by the patient-himself E mustbe easily operatedand eiliect ,elevationfariddescent of the spring sections w1tna m tnandgradual motion, with especial-attention given to the elimination of'objectionablevibrations; it a easily and selectively operated by asingle operating lever accessible to a patient on the bed.-

Still another object of this invention is to -pro-'- vide hydrauliccontrol mechanism for elevating the hinged spring sections of a hospitalbed which is of unitary construction and which is readily attached toany bed having hinged spring sections. r

A further object of this invention is toprovide spring sections of a bedoi the character described, which is compact in design'so astooc-l cupyaminimum oi space on the bed.

With the above and other .objectsinview which will appear as thedescrlptionproceeds thi vention resides in the novelconstructiong:om-

I tions; c

, d y as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by theappended claims, itbeing'understood that such'changes in the preciseembodie ment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as comewithin thescope of the claims} The accompanying drawings illustrate 1two complete examples ofthe. physical embodiment" of the inventionconstructed in accordance with the best modes so :i'ar devised for; thepractical application of the principles thereof, 'and;in which: h 1 1Figural isa side view of a bed constructed, in accordance with thepreferredfiorm of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bed shown inFigure"1;- Y 3 y Figuresis an enlarged detail view of the opcrating mechanism {or the bed takenthrough Figure 2, on theplane of the line33;-

Figure 4 is a cross-'sectional-view taken through i Figure 1 on theplane of the line 4-4;

Figure 5 isia'ddetail sectional viewtaken Figure 6 is a. detail viewillustrating the conthe back l 'festi spring section of the bed; p

' Figure 7 is a view-similar to Figure 6 illustrating the manner-inwhich the legrest sec'tion is connected to the other of the hydraulic:Iacks;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating. a' modified-"formof the invention;

' Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 8 on'the planeof the line 9-9;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the operatingmechanism-illustrated in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the bed-illustrated in Figure-8; V

Figure 12 is a view taken through Figure 11 on the plane of the line Ii-I2; and l Figures 13 and 14 are fragmentary views illustrating'dctailsof mechanism shown in Figure 8. Referring now more particularly to theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts,the'numeral 5 designates a bed having a rigid frame-or bedsteadincluding upright head and foot sections 5 and 'l, respectively and siderails 8 rigidly connecting the headand foot sec- On the rigid framestructure of the bed and resting on, the side rails 8 is an articulatedmattress-supportingijspring indicated generally by 'the. numeral-:9.Asis usual, the mattress supporting spring comprises the conventionalweb-- bing l0 stretched between and anchored toa boundary frame withwhich the vided.

The spring is divided into a plurality of transverselyhingedly-connected sections providing a back supporting section II atthe head end of the bed, hingedly connected as at I! to opposite shortspring is prostationary medial sections l3 rigidly secured to theopposite side rails 8, and two leg-supporting sections l4 and i5 at thefoot end of the bed,

hingedly connected to each other as at-IG. The end of the leg supportingsection l5 opposite its hinge connection to the section I 4 is hingedlyconnected as at H to the medial or stationary sec tions I3 of themattress support. p

The under side of the free end of the leg section lhis provided withrollers l8 which are guided for travel in channel-shaped members i8 toraise the sections, and in such constructions the friction in the screwactuating mechanism served to retain the sections in their elevatedpositions. In either event, however, the services of an attendant wererequired to efiect elevation and descentof the sections.

The present invention, through the use of easily and separately operatedhydraulic jacks l9 and 20 for the back rest and leg rest sectionsrespectively overcomes the objections to the use of such pastconstructions by enabling the patient to effect raising and lowering ofthe sections whenever he so desires.

The hydraulic jacks l9 and 20 form a part of the control mechanismindicated generally as at 2| and which is capable of being attached tothe one of the rigid side rails by means of bolts'23 passing throughrigid uprights 24 on the mounting member and the vertical flange of theside rail.

The hydraulic jacks are positioned at the inside of the mounting memberand secured thereto by means of U bolts 25 embracing the outer shells ofthe jack; and tightened to the mounting member by means of nuts 26threaded on their free ends which project through the mounting member.The U bolts preferably hold the hydraulic jacks in a substantiallyhorizontal position and in end to end and spaced-apart relationship sothat the plunger ends of the jacks are adjacent to each other. It willbe apparent, therefore, that a minimum amount of space beneath the bedis required by mounting the jacks in this manner.

The jacks have reciprocable plungers 21 at their adjacent ends and rams28 projecting from their remote ends to be movable outwardly of the jackhousings upon reciprocation of their respective plungers. an actuatinglever 29 connected thereto which is pivotally supported at its lower end-from= the Each of the plungers 21 has mounting member as at 30 and hasits free upper end portion provided with a horizontally extend-- ingstud 3|.

Theactuating levers are of such shape as to hold their respective studs3| at opposite sides of and facing a substantially-vertical planeparallel to the side rail of the bed as is clearly seen in Figure 5.Disposition of 'the studs in this manner enables selective reciprocationof the plungers of the jacks in a manner now about to be described. U vr e For the purpose of selectively imparting pivotal motion to theplunger actuating levers and consequent reciprocation of the-plungersconnected thereto, a connectorbar 32 is provided -having a lengthsuflicient to span the space between the jacks. 'The connector bar ismounted in-a substantially horizontal position above the jack plungersfor movement in an endwise direction parallel to the axes of the jacksby means of a parallelogram linkage 33 of which the connector bar formsa part. The medial portion of the connector bar has one end of each ofthe upright paralleLlinks 34 pivotally connected thereto, which linksform the sides of the parallelogram and which have their opposite endspivotally connected to a pivot block- 35 opposite the connector bar andforming the fourth side oi the parallelogram.

The pivot block 35 thus freely supports the connector bar forsubstantially horizontal endwise movement above the plunger ends of thejacks and lengthwise of the bed. The pivot block is held against endwisemovement with theconfor tilting or sidewise motion ini a directiontransverse to the axes of the hydraulic jacks toward and from the sideof the bed at which the'mechanism is attached.

The trunnions thus permit side-wise motion of the connector bar to andfrom potentially operative driving positions with respect to the studs3! of the actuating levers as is seen in Figure 5. Each of the plungers21 is drivingly connected with the connector bar upon sidewise movementof the parallelogram linkage in the proper direction by the engagementof the stud 3| of its respective actuating lever in one 'of a pair ofslots 32' opening to the under side of the connector near its ends.

An operating lever 38 is connected to one of the parallel upright links34 in any suitable manner and projects above the spring sections at theoutside of the bed to be readily accessible to a patient'on the bed. Theplunger of either jack may, therefore, be reciprocated throughoscillation of the operating lever in a direction lengthwise of the bed.Such reciprocation of either plunger efi'ects raising of one of thespring sections of the bed in a manner to be shortly described.

While it is obvious that the entire parallelogram linkage may be freelymoved sidewise to a position engaging one or the other of the studs ofthe actuating levers, it is preferable to maintain the parallelogramlinkage including the operating 'lever in a position swung toward thebed where the connector bar may be drivingly connected with the plungerof the jack l9 for the back rest section.

For this purpose the inside of the pivot block flange 40 on the mountingmember and which may form a part thereof or may be provided by aseparate plate fixed to the bottom flange ll of the mounting member.

A compression spring 42 encircling the outer end of a bolt 43 between anut at the end of the bolt and the flange 39 maintains the pivot blockand the entire parallelogram linkage including the operating levertilted to one extreme position close to the side of the bed. Thedifferent tilted positions of the operating lever are defined by theengagement of the opposite faces of the connector bar with the actuatinglevers.

Shoulders 35' adjacent to each of the upright links 34 are engagedthereby during endwise movement of the parallelogram linkage to limitthe stroke of the operating lever; Thus the plunger of either jack isdirectly drivingly connected with the operating lever if sidewiseshifting motion thereof is always effected at one extreme ofoscillation.

As is apparent, reciprocation of either plunger of the jacks causes theram thereof to be projected outwardly of the jack housing. Thismoopposite sides of the boundary frame of the leg rest section I5.

Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 55 in a clockwise direction as viewedin Figure 7, an upward force is exerted on the leg rest section l5 tocause the same to pivot upwardly on its, connection I! and to alsoelevate the leg rest section Id.

The shaft 55 is rotated to effect such elevation of the leg rest sectionby means of an arm 58 on the shaft, and which may be formed by anangular extension of the arm 51 adjacent to the jack 20 connectedthrough a link 59 with a' collar 60 secured to the ram 28 of the jack20.

tion of the ram is utilized to effect raising of one spring section.

In Figure 6 the leverage for connecting the hydraulic jack IS with theback rest section II is illustrated.

As here seen, the ram 28 has secured thereto a collar 45 to which oneend of a link 45 is pivotally connected; The link 46 extends toward theplunger'end of the jack and has its flange of the boundary frame of theback rest section. The free ends of the arms 5| provide a support for atransverse shaft 52 which has its opposite ends projecting beyond thearms 5| to mount rollers 53 thereon for engagement with the underside ofthe boundary frame back rest.

If desired, the portion of the boundary frame adjacent to the rollersmay be provided with an angle-like member 54 having a flange disposedunder the opposite side of the rollers 53 and cooperating with the topflange of the boundary frame to provide a substantially channelshapedguide track for the rollers.

Thus, upon reciprocation of the plunger of the jack IS an upward forcewill be exerted on the free portion of the back rest through thelli;ikage connecting it with theram of the jack Elevation of the legrest sections is effected in a similar manner and in this instance arotatable tubular shaft 55 is also provided extending transverselyacross the bed to have its ends received in bearings 56 secured to theunder side of the side rails of the bed.

Near the opposite ends of the shaft 55 and inside the side rails theshaft 55 has secured thereto a pair of arms 51 which have their outerfree ends connected through a link 51' with the of the The free end ofeach ram is journalled for reciprocation in the upright flange of a clipangle 60' secured to the mounting member, which cooperates with the jackhousing to support both ends of each ram. v

Each of the jacks is provided with the conventional release means, notshown, which upon actuation permits descent of an elevated section. Therelease means for the back rest jack l9 has a stem 6| rotatabletocontrol the release, and projecting from the plunger end of the jack.The stem 6| is rotated by connection thereof through a linkage system 62with a push rod 63 yieldingly held in an upwardly projected position atwhich the releasing means is inoperative by means of a compressionspring 64 confined between a thumb piece at the free endof the push rodand a flange 65 fixed to the mounting memher and through which the pushrod passes to connected through linkage 61 with another push rod 68adjacent to the push rod 63 and similarly provided with a compressionspring 69, confined between a thumb piece on the push rod and the flange65 through which the rod passes, to

hold the same in an upwardly projected position at which the releasemeans is inoperative.

Depression of the push rod 68 'when the leg rest section is in anelevated position actuates the release means of the'jack 20 and therebypermits the leg rest section to descend toits normal position above theside rail 8.

In the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to14 inclusive the'ba'ck rest section I! and leg rest sections l4 and I5are provided with hydraulic jackslfl and 'Il respectively, as in theprevious embodiment. These jacks are also carried by a single mountingmember 12 extending transversely across the bed and securedat itsopposite ends to the opposite side rails 8 of the bed adjacent to thestationary medial section '|3 of the mattress support;

As in the previous embodiment, the jacks are secured to the mountingmember I2 in a substantially fiat horizontal position with theirlongitudinal axes extending lengthwise of the bed, but with one jackadjacent to the inside of each side rail. The rams l3 and. 14 of thejacks l5 and H respectively are projeetible outwardly of the jackhousing toward the leg rest and back rest sections respectively uponreciprocation of their respective plungers.

Each of the rams has its outer end joined with one end of a tensionmember 15 comprising section.

spaced-apart parallel bars connected to each other at their oppositeends and extending alongside the ram and the jack housings-past thespectively to impart an upward elevating force thereon.

Thus outward projection of the ram of each jack in a, direction awayfrom its associated hinged section imparts a pull on its tension mem-,her to effect elevation of its associated spring If desired, tensionsprings 88 may be connected between the rams of the jacks and themounting bar 12 to insure retraction .of a-projected ram and descent ofits' elevated section.

The plunger of either jack is reciprocated selectively and individuallythrough oscillation of the operatinglever into reciprocation of one orthe other of the jack plungers, the mounting member has suspendedtherefrom a cross supporting shaft 82 by means of hangars 82' fixed tothe underside of the bar 12 adjacent to its ends at the inside of thestationary frame of the bed.

The shaft 82 is rotatably supported by the hangars and projectsoutwardly'of the bed'at one side thereof adjacent to the hydraulic backrest jack 18. The other end of the shaft 82 terminates substantiallyunder the hydraulic leg rest jack 1|. i

The end of the shaft which projects to the outside of the bed mounts ahinge plate 83 for oscillation thereon by one leg 84 of the hinge plate.The hinge 85 of the hinge plate has its axis beneath the axis of theshaft 82 and substantially perpendicular thereto.

The other leg 88 of the hinge plate extends upface of the leg 84 andprojects to a point above the shaft 82. To. enable free sidewiseswinging motionof the leg 88, a slot (not shown) is prolever 88 and thefree end of a plunger actuating lever 85 on the jack. In this manner,the back rest is easily elevated to any desired height by continuedoscillation of the operating lever in a I direction lengthwise of thebed.

The lever 81 at the opposite side of the hinge plate and at the extremeend of the shaft 82 is fixed with respect to the shaft, and has a stud88 projecting toward the leg 88 of the hinge plate and spaced outwardlyof the end of the stud 82. Consequently, the operating lever 8| may bedrivingly connected with the shaft 82 to oscillate the same uponalignment of the aperture 83 of the. leg 88 with the stud 98 andsubsequent sidewise rocking motion of the leg 88 about the hinge -85 tengage the stud 98 in the aperture;

Oscillation .of the shaft 82 by means of the operating lever in thismanner is translated into reciprocation of the plunger of the jack II bymeans of a link 81 having one end pivotally connected with the outer endof a, lever 88 fixed to the shaft beneath the jack 1|, and its other endpivotally connected with the free end of a plunger actuating lever 88 onthe jack 1|.

Thus oscillation of the operating lever in a direction lengthwise of thebed in its outward limit of sidewise movement defined by engagement ofthe leg 88 of the hinge plate 83 with the lever 81 .and while drivinglyconnected thereto effects elevation of the leg rest section of the bed.

As in the previous \bodiment described, each of the jacks 18 and II isprovided with release means not shown having rotatable stems forcontrolling the releasing action. The stems of the release means for thejacks 18 and 1| are connected through linkage systems I88 and IMrespectively with pull rods I82 and I83 respectively of the bed adjacentto the operating lever and I are supported by said side rail.

Each of the pull rods is provided with a grip at its free end tofacilitate grasping thereof by wardly from the hinge 85 to overlie theouter vided therein through which the shaft projects.

one at each side of the leg 88, of the hinge plate.

The lever 88 isprovided with an elongated hub 88 loosely journalled "onthe shaft and confined betweenthe leg 84 of the hinge plate and theadjacent hangar 82, and has an upwardly extendin arm 88 at its endadjacent to the hinge plate, and a downwardly projecting arm 8| at itsopposite end.

The arm 88 of the lever 88 has secured thereto a stud 82 projectingoutwardly toward the leg 88 of the hinge plate 83, to have its endportion received in an aperture 93 in the leg 88 when the latter is inone extreme of sidewise motion defined by its engagement with the leg 84of the hinge plate. This position of the leg 88 is shown in Figure 0.

Oscillation of the hinge plate by means of the operating lever 8| aboutthe axis of the shaft 82 when the parts are thus positioned effectsoscillation of the lever 88, and reciprocation of the.plunger of jack 18through a link 84 connected between the outer end of the arm 8| of the apatient on the bed, and permit selective actuation of either of therelease means of the hydraulic jacks.

For the purpose of facilitating engagement of the studs 82 and-88 withthe aperture 83 of the leg 88, the lever 81. is yieldingly maintained ina definite position when disengaged from the operating lever against astationary stop -I84 forming part of a framework I85 which-may besecured to the side rail of the bed 8 adjacent to the operating lever orwhich may be directly carried by the cross bar or mounting member 12.

To maintain the lever 81 engaged with the stop I84, a tension spring I86is secured between I the free end of the lever and an upright portion ofthe framework. Cooperating with the stop I84 is a stop I81 which limitsrearward lengthwise oscillation of the operating lever toward the headend of the bed and which serves to accurately locate the hole 83 of thehinge plate leg 88 with respect to the stud 88 of the lever 81.

Thus the stud of either lever 81 and 88 is automatically aligned withthe aperture 93 if sidewise shifting motion of the operating lever isalways effected at the rearward limit of oscillation of the operatinglever; it being understood that the plunger of jack 18 holds the lever88 in its position at which disengagement between its stud and theoperating lever is effected.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to provide for disposition of the operatinglever to an out-of-thewayposition when the control mechanism is not inuse, special mounting means has been provided v between the lever andthe hinge plate leg 88.

' mounted. for oscillation in either of. two substan- As clearlyillustrated in Figure 8, it isseen that 4 the operating lever BI ismounted on the leg 86 of the hinge plate by means of a pair of spacedrivets H0, one at the extreme lower end of the operating lever and theother at a medial point on the lever and both of which are carried bythe hinge plate.

The lower of the rivets is received in an open slot in the end of theoperating lever while the upper of the rivets passes through anelongated closed slot so that pivotal motion of the lever with respectto the hinge plate 83 is permitted upon lifting of the lever todisengage its lower bifurcated end from the lower rivet.

When the operating lever is so disengaged it may be swung rearwardlyabout the axis of the upper rivet to a substantially horizontal positionwhere its free end may rest on a cushion stop I I I near the head end ofthe bed.

It will be readily apparent from the descriptions of both forms of theinvention that the control mechanism is readily connected to .any'bedhaving hinged back and leg rest sections due to the unitary constructionof the mechanism.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthis invention provides a simple unitary lever accessible tov a patienton the bed and tially upright planes inclined to each other, plungeractuating means for each jack, and a connector movable with theoperating lever and engaged with one of said actuating means when theoperating lever is in one of said two angularly disposed planes andengaged with the other of said actuating means when the operating leveris in the other of said planes; and means forconnecting the ram ofeach.jack withone of the side rails of the bed; a pair of hydraulicjacks carried by the mounting member ina substantially horizontalpositionwith their longitudinal axes-substantially aligned and inspaced-apart relationship, each of said jacks having a plunger at theiradjacent ends and a ram projecting from their opposite ends each movablein response to reciprocation of its plunger; means for selectivelyreciprocating said plungers including a bar spanning the space betweenthe adjacent endsof the control mechanism for elevating the back and legsupporting spring sections of a hospital bed'and which is especiallydesigned for easy .operation so that even a very weak patient mayoperate the mechanism Without the necessity of the services of anattendant.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting frame connectible to astationary part of the bed; a pair of hydraulic jacks secured to saidmounting frame to lie in a substantially horizontal position withrespect to the bed, each of saidjacks having a reciprocal plunger and aram movable in response to reciprocation of its plunger; drivingmechanism connected to each of the jack plungers; an operating levermounted on the mounting frame for oscillation lengthwise and crosswiseof the bed; means for translating oscillation of the lever lengthwise ofthe bed into reciprocation of one or the other of the jack plungersincluding means on the lever selectively mechanically connectible withsaid plunger driving mechanisms, connection of said lever means with thedriving mechanism of one plunger entailing oscillation of the lever inone direction crosswise of the bed to disconnect said lever means fromthe drivin mechanism of the other plunger whereby said plungers areindividually and selectively reciprocated by the operating lever; andmeans for con necting the ram of each jack with one of the springsections whereby reciprocation of the plunger of each jack is translatedinto elevational movement of one of the spring sections.

2. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting member for themechanism securable to a stationary portion-of the bed; a pairofhydraulic jacks carried by the mounting member, each of said jackshaving a reciprocable plunger and a ram movable in response toreciprocation of its plunger; means carried by the mounting member forselectively reciprocating said plungers including an operating jacks,means mounting the bar from the mount ing member for motion toward andfrom the plunger end of each jack and for sidewise motion in a directiontransverse to theaxesof the jacks, means for connecting the bar with oneof the plungers in one of its transverse positions and for connectingthe bar with the :other of said plungers in the other of its transversepositions,

and an operatin lever for imparting motion to the bar for reciprocatingthe plunger connected thereto; and means for connecting the ram of eachjack with one of the spring sections ofv the bed whereby reciprocationof the plunger of each jack is translated into elevational movement ofone of the hinged spring sections.

4. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting member for themechanism adapted to be secured to a stationary portion of the bed;spacedapart hydraulic jacks carried by the; mounting member in asubstantially horizontal position, each of said jacks having areciprocable plunger at one end and a ram projecting from its oppositeend 'and projectible in response-to reciprocation of its plunger; anoperating lever accessible to a patient on the bed; means mounting theoperating lever from themounting member for oscillation in either of twosubstantially upright planes inclined with respect to each other; anactuating lever for the plunger of each of the jacks, one adjacent toeach of saidplanes; latch means movable with the oper- Y ating lever andengaged with a part on one of said actuating levers when theoperating'lever is in one of said planes, and engaged with apart to astationary portion of the bed; a pair of opposed hydraulic jacks securedto said mounting member with their longitudinal axes lying in asubstantially common horizontal plane, each of said jacks. having areciprocable plunger at their adjacent ends and a ram projecting fromthe opposite end of each jack and movable in ref sponse toreciprocation, of its plunger; an operating lever for the jackspivotally carried by the mounting member for oscillation in separatedefined substantially-upright planes; means for connecting the operatinglever with one of the plungers when the operating lever is in one ofsaid planes and with the other plunger when the operatin lever is in theother of said planes, whereby the plungers are individually connectiblewith the operating lever to be reciprocated there-' I back and leg restspring sections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting memberconnectible to a stationary portion of the bed; a pair of hydraulicjacks secured to said mounting frame with their longitudinal axes lyingin a common horizontal plane, each of said jacks having a reciprocableplunger and a ram movable in response to reciprocation ofits plunger;anoperating lever for the jacks supported from the mounting memberadjacent to the outside of the bed for pivotal motion about asubstantially horizontal axis perpendicular to the side rails of the bedand for limited sidewise rocking motion toward and from the bed;means'engaged :by the operating lever in one of'its limits of sidewisemotion for drivingly connecting the operating lever with theplunger ofone of the jacks and for drivingly connecting the lever with the plungerof the other jack when the operating lever is in the other of its'limitsof sidewise motion, whereby pivotal motion of the operating lever aboutits substantially horizontal axis is translated into reciprocation ofthe plunger of one of said jacks and whereby the jacks are selectivelyoperated by the lever; means for connecting the ram of eachrjack and oneof the hinged sections of the bed for translating motion of the ram ofeach jack in response to reciprocation of its plunger into elevational;movement of one of the hinged spring sections; and release means foreach jack selectively operable by a patient on the bed for permittingthe descent of an elevated spring section.

7. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an inva id bed comprising: a mounting -member for themechanism securable to the supporting structure of the bed; a pair ofhydraulic jacks carried by the mounting member, each having areciprocable plunger and a ram movable in response to reciprocation ofits plunger; means carried by themounting member for reciprocating saidplungers including an operating lever accessible to a patient on the bedand mounted for oscillation in either of two substantially uprightplanes inclined to each other, and means 'for individually drivinglyconnecting the plungers of the jacks f with the operating lever, saidmeans being operable to drlvingly connect the plunger of one jack withthe operating lever when'the operating lever is positioned foroscillation in one of said planes and operable to drivingly connect theplunger of the other of saidjacks with the operating lever when theoperating lever is positioned for oscillation in the other of saidplanes; and means for connecting the ram of each-jack with one of thespringsections of the bed whereby reciprocation of the plunger of eachjack is translated into elevational movement of one of the springsections.

8. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting member for themechanism connectible between the side rails of the bed; a hydraulicjack for each of the hinged sections fixed to the mounting member so asto lie in a substantially horizontal position with their longitudinalaxes lengthwise of the bed, said jacks each having a reciprocableplunger and a ram connected with one of the hinged sections to elevatethe same upon motion of the rams in response to reciprocation of theirplungers; a shaft rotatably supported from the mounting member so as tolie transversely of the bed and having one end projecting from one sideof the bed; a lever fixed to the extremity of said end of the shaft; alever loose on said end of the shaft spaced inwardly of said fixedlever; a single operating lever for the jacks; means on the shaftbetween said levers mounting the operating lever,

for oscillation about the axis of the shaft and for sidewise motiontoward and from each of said levers; means for establishing a drivingconnection between the operating'lever and said fixed lever uponsidewise movement of the-operating lever toward said fixed lever; meansfor establishing a driving connection between the operating lever andsaid loose lever upon sideways movement of the operating lever towardsaid loose lever and away from the fixed lever, whereby oscillation ofthe operating lever whendrivingly connected with the fixed lever efiectsoscillation of the shaft; meanslconnecting theshaft with the plunger ofone of said jacks so as to effect reciprocation thereof upon oscillationof the shaft; and means connecting the loose lever with the plunger ofthe other of said jacks whereby oscillation of the operating lever whendrivingly connected with said loose lever is translated intoreciprocation of said last named plunger.

, 9. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid 'bed comprising: a mounting member for themechanism connectible between the side rails of the bed; a hydraulicjack for each of the hinged sections fixed to the mounting member so asto lie in a substantially horizontal position with their longitudinalaxes lengthwise of the bed, said jacks each having a reciprocableplunger and a ram connected with one of the hinged sections to lever forthe jacks; means on the shaft between' said levers mounting theoperating lever for oscillation about the axis of the shaft and forsidewise motion toward and from each of said levers;

means for establishing a driving connection be- -means connecting theloose lever with theplunger of the other of said jacks wherebyoscillation of the operating lever when drivingly connected with saidloose lever is translated into reciprocation of said last named plunger;and means rendered operative by a patient on the bed for lowering anelevated spring section.

10. Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back and leg rest springsections of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting member extendingtransversely across the underside of the bed and adapted to be securedto the side rails thereof between the hinged sections; a pair ofhydraulic jacks carried flatwise beneath the mounting member with theirlongitudinal axes extending lengthwise of the bed, one of said jacksbeing positioned adjacent to each end of the mounting member so as to bealongside one of the side rails of the bed, said jacks each having areciprocable plunger and a ram movable in response to reciprocation ofits plunger; means for connecting the ram of one of the jacks to theback rest section so that the same may be elevated; means connecting theram of the other jack to the leg rest section whereby the leg restsection may be elevated; a shaft rotatably supported from the mountingmember so as to lie transversely of the bed beneath the mounting memberand having jacks carried fia'twise beneath the mounting member withtheir longitudinal axes extending lengthwise of the bed, one of saidjacks being positioned adjacent to each end of the mounting member so asto be alongside one of the side,

rails of the bed, said jacks each having a reciprocable plunger and aram movable in response to reciprocation of its plunger; means forconnecting the ram of one of the jacks to the back rest section so thatthe same may be elevated: means connecting the ram of the other jack tothe leg rest section whereby the leg rest section may be elevated; ashaft rotatably supported from the mounting member so as to lietransversely of the bed beneath the mounting member and having one endprojecting from one side of the bed; means connecting the shaft with theplunger of the leg rest jack so that oscillation of the shaft effectsreciprocation of the leg rest jack plunger; a lever spaced from saidendof the shaft and loosely mounted thereon; means connecting said looselever with the plunger of the back rest jack so that oscillation of theloose lever eflects reciprocation of the back rest Jack plunger; a leverfixed on said end of the shaft in axially spaced relationship withrespect to said loose lever; a single operating lever for the jacks;means on the shaft between said levers mounting the operating lever foroscillation about the axis of the shaft and for sidewise motion towardand from each of said levers; means for establishing a drivingconnection between the operating lever and said fixed lever uponsidewise movement of the operating lever toward said fixedlever wherebyoscillation of the operating lever effects reciprocation of the leg restjack plunger; means for one end projecting from one side of the bed; a

means connecting the shaft with the plunger of the leg rest jack so thatoscillation of the shaft eflects reciprocation of the leg rest jackplunger; a lever spaced from said end of the shaft and loosely mountedthereon; means connecting said loose lever with the plunger of the backrest jack so that oscillation of the loose lever effects reciprocationof the back rest jack plunger; a lever fixed on said end of the shaft inaxially spaced relationship with respect to said loose lever; a singleoperating lever for the jacks; means on the shaft between said leversmounting the operating lever for oscillation about the axis of the shaftand for sidewise'motion toward-and from each of said levers; means forestablishing a 11, Control mechanism for elevating the hinged back andleg rest spring section of an invalid bed comprising: a mounting memberextending transversely across the underside of the bed and adapted to besecured to the side rails thereof between the hinged sections; a-pair ofhydraulic establishing a, driving connectionbetween the operating leverand said loose lever upon sidewise motion of the operating lever towardsaid member with their longitudinal axes extending lengthwise of thebed, each of said Jacks having a reciprocable plunger and a ram movablein response to reciprocation of its plunger; an operating lever for thejacks supported from the mounting member adjacent to the outside of thebed for oscillatory motion in a direction lengthwise of the bed and forlimited sidewise motion toward and from the side of the bed; means forestablishing a driving connection between the operating lever and theplunger of one of said jacks when the operating lever is in one extremeof sidewise motion and for establishing a driving connection between theoperating lever and the plunger of the other of said jacks when theoperating lever is in its other extreme of sidewise motion, and wherebythe plungers are individually reciprocated by the operating lever; andmeans for connecting the ram of each jack and one of the hinged sectionsof the bed for translating motion of the ram of each jack in response toreciprocation of its plunger into elevational movement of one of thehinged spring sections. ALFRED LAUKHUFF

